In the 1960s and 1970's In the Queen Charlotte Islands Sandspit bar we used to have earwig races . We used a 3/4 inch piece of marine plywood with 1/4 inch slots cut down the full length. A piece of glass was set on the top to keep the bugs from crawling out of the top. There were 10 starting gates for the bugs and at the gun ( Traditionally the bartender would let out a loud burp ) and off they'd go. Sometimes the race was over in minutes but sometimes it took over a 1/2 hour depending on whether or not the earwigs chose to move or rest. No one was allowed to touch the racetrack table or influence them in anyway as there was often more than a $1000.00 bet on the outcome. The Loggers and fishermen who inhabited the bar would sometimes bet a weeks wage on their favorite bug. I once saw a fellow pay $500.00 for a really fast bug named Rhoda that sadly let him down in the next race when It came sauntering out the end of the slot In 6th place. In a bit of a snit He brought down his fist smartly on top of the bug while uttering a very vile logger style curse. Then he ordered a picture of beer quickly drank the whole thing by himself then passed out. He didn't believe us the next day when we told him how he had lost his paycheck.
In 1971 Beautiful BC Magazine did a two page article on the race, consequently some government offical showed up on the next plane visited the bar and closed the race down permanently then flew away. A wise choice because if those angry loggers had caught up with him He would not have been a happy camper.
PS Native kids used to sell them to the Loggers just outside the Hotel entrance for a buck or so, but if you were too cheap to give the kids a buck It was easy to find yourself a new racer right there in the bar you didn't even need to leave the room.
peta apparently doesn't care for earwigs as we never heard from them about the cruelty involved in a 10 foot earwig race. Oh! the Horror!
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